RCMP hearing to go ahead

OTTAWA – A veteran Mountie accused of sexual harassment, drinking in the office and operating a police car under the influence of alcohol has lost his court bid to derail a pending disciplinary hearing against him.

A federal judge says it would be premature to rule on RCMP Sgt. Steve Black’s argument that a delay of more than 10 months means the disciplinary hearing must be scrapped.

In his decision, Federal Court Justice James Russell said Black’s first avenue of appeal is to the RCMP commissioner.

Details of the case surface amid concerns about harassment within the RCMP and the ability of the national police force to deal with serious allegations against its members.

According to documents filed in Federal Court, the Alberta Serious Incident Response Team began an investigation in December 2009 into a complaint about Black, a member of the RCMP detachment in Red Deer.

In November 2010, following the probe, a senior RCMP officer was told that Crown counsel had decided no criminal charges would be laid against Black, a Mountie since 1990.

That same month, the RCMP initiated formal discipline proceedings against Black, and directed an adjudication board to hear the matter.

It is alleged that Black, engaged in “inappropriate, unprofessional and unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature” with a female subordinate both within and outside of the workplace.”